The time has come... I finished my service and now I am back home. There are a lot of mixed emotions that come with that considering I spent almost 3 good years of my life there, The Gambia has a special place in my heart. I trust that God has a plan for my life though and I knew it was time to go when I left.
Being home is a new adventure in itself. I have experienced culture shock in my own country, little things including:
*I am still calling people to come and eat with me, (in The Gam one person never eats alone, there is always at least three people around a food bowl eating) while I do this no one understands... but then I just have to laugh at myself too.
*Whenever I see someone I asking them how their "home people" are and if there is "any trouble with them" -- well, I think these are good questions but they mostly stem off of Gambian greetings-- you always ask people this, even if they are strangers.
*I am suffering from really dry skin here... my body is not sure what to do with Washington's weather.
*I was shocked to see how CLEAN America is.... its so nice.
*I have wanted to walk everywhere I go around town but the weather is so COLD.
*My stomach is not very strong here... adjusting back to American food has been tough. I run to the toilet after ANYTHING I eat.
*And coming from a girl that had 8 speeding tickets (don't worry I am a good driver), now that I am back, even my mom driving at a high speed was scaring me. She had to drive 10 below just so I could feel safe. -- that's kind of funny.
But like I said, I am doing well. I am home now so I have just been applying to jobs and still trying to work out as well as spend time with family and friends. Its weird to see how much I have changed. As I was flying home last week I was sitting on the plan thinking to myself one good story that I would tell my family and friends about the Peace Corps, perhaps about teaching math to 8th graders or a story about my village. As I was thinking of a story I couldn't help but think about the story in my heart.... how The Gambia and its people changed the story of my heart. How they imprinted my life and changed my perspective on things. This is the story I will tell. The Peace Corps was a wonderful opportunity, I am so grateful and blessed to have become apart of that.
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